Saturday Refeed

Any of you guys out there who regularly follow my blog knows that I generally live a very low-carbohydrate lifestyle. Other than training days, I actually don't consume carbohydrates. Hell, even on training days I only consume something of 110 grams. Needless to say, I am on a CKD type diet.

Nonetheless, my all time favorite day of the week has to be Saturdays. "Why? Might you ask". Because on Saturday. I engage in what is called a carbohydrate refeed where for 9 hours I consume as much high-gi/low fat treats as possible. If my body is telling me to eat 9 pancakes w/ syrup, I'll eat it. Drizzle extra syrup over the top? I'll do it. However, once the moment comes where the 9 hours are up, I go immediately back to my old dieting ways. This refeed allows for a number of things for both my body and my sanity.

If you've ever dieted down you can tell when your body gets sluggish and tired. What sometimes happens as a result of the daily demands of working out and dieting, is that your body decreases a hormone called Leptin. Leptin is a tricky bastard because it helps stimulates other hormones in your body (the important ones) that are responsible with keeping your metabolism going and keeping muscle building happening. What happens though throughout Sunday - Friday is a fall in the body's glycogen due to the dieting and a decrease in this Leptin. However, Leptin is very responsive to high glycemic carbohydrates / low fat meals. A person could nearly inclemently increase fallen leptin levels by momentarily eating these types of foods (i.e., the Saturday 9 hour refeed). So it actually, despite eating junk food - does a body good.

And let's just be honest. If you've ever dieted down for a bodybuilding competition, wedding or photo shoot; pancakes and high GI carbohydrates just sound absolutely delicious. I'm out people. I'm off to down a Monster Energy Drink and slam some pancakes. :)